Under the guidance of Professor Simon Hiscock, Professor of Botany and Director of the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, and Dr. Christopher Thorogood, of Bristol University’s School of Biological Sciences, the group arrived in Portugal on Saturday, 5 April, and spent a week in the Cape Saint Vincent area of Sagres on the western tip of the Algarve, examining the flora there.
“We come every year for a week to introduce the students to the typical flowers of Mediterranean Climate Regions. This is a great place to learn about them because it has the most diverse range of Mediterranean plants in the world”, said Professor Hiscock, who has been a regular visitor to Portugal for over 20 years.
Describing the Western end of the Algarve as having “one of the most amazing plant communities in the region in terms of biodiversity”, the Professor added it is also “a great place in which to inspire students.”
Dr. Christopher Thorogood, who has been visiting the Algarve for a decade, told The Portugal News it is “a very special place in which to see wild flowers and is well-known for being a habitat of orchids and parasitic plants.”
“It is one of the richest in the Mediterranean basin”, he said, reiterating: “It is an opportunity for students to see this richness as well as being an opportunity for them to understand how it works.”
During their stay in Sagres the group of students was introduced to Algarvian agriculture, to the likes of cork oaks, citrus, olive and carob trees, as well as other native flora “and typical components of the Mato [scrubland] plant community.”
“From a general point of view” Dr. Thorogood elaborated, “the students were overwhelmed by the diversity found here, which is so much richer than in the UK, I think that is what they found particularly interesting. There are some really fascinating groups of plants out here.”
While in Portugal Professor Hiscock and Dr. Thorogood also found time to attend the launch of a book the duo have recently penned named ‘Field Guide to the Wildflowers of the Algarve’.
The meet and greet with the authors, organised by the new Association for Mediterranean Gardens in Portugal, took place at Quinta da Figueirinha in Silves on the day the group arrived (Saturday 5 April) and saw an impressive number of Algarve-based garden enthusiasts turn out for the event.
Addressing the support shown for their work, Professor Hiscock, whose area of research covers Plant Evolutionary Genetics and Plant Reproduction, reflected: “The book is so much in demand, it’s been wonderful. We are very flattered and honoured.”

BY CARRIE-MARIE BRATLEY, IN ALGARVE NEWS

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